The inaugural event is “to inspire, educate, and empower people everywhere to stand up for real food. The weekend of events will bring together an international community of foodies, chefs, parents, educators, companies, activists and celebrities to arm people with the knowledge and tools to make healthier food choices.”

With skyrocketing obesity rates tied to a rise in chronic health conditions and soaring healthcare costs, this food crisis deserves our attention. As we continue to learn more about how diet and lifestyle starting at an early age impact males’ chances of getting cancer, it’s vital that events such Food Revolution Day and the weekly Meatless Monday get as much media attention as possible. We must counter the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by fast-food, sugary beverage and processed snack food companies to steer purchases toward high-sugar and high-fat food with low nutrient value. We must encourage healthier dietary habits, especially for a younger generation of men.

Food Revolution Day has over 600 events in 400 cities in 45 countries, so there’s likely an event in your area.

“Somewhere along the line, our relationship with food broke down,” says Jamie Oliver. “On May 19, I urge you to stand up for real food and pledge to bring food education back into our schools, workplaces and communities. Host a dinner party or sign up for one of the great events happening across the world. Cooking with real ingredients, understanding where food comes from and passing along that knowledge will get us back on track.”

Food Revolution Day will inspire Americans and people around the world to make small, simple changes that will lead to healthier lives. Recent reports by the Institute of Medicine and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) reveal that two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost a third of children are either overweight or obese. It is predicted that by 2030, 42 percent of adult Americans will be obese.

On Food Revolution Day I ask others to reflect on the food we eat and what it’s doing to our bodies. Is the food we’re putting in our mouths a concoction of processed “food” designed with addictive chemicals by food scientists, or is it good wholesome food, and you know how it’s made, where it comes from and that it has no chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or larvicides?

Let’s go a day without fast food and be good to our bodies. Let’s have a Food Revolution Day!